Surrey Leader
By Kevin Diakiw
Staff Reporter

A controversial exotic animal bylaw will undergo some changes before council votes on a final draft, according to the councillor who initiated the proposed ban.
Earlier this year, Coun. Dianne Watts proposed a complete ban on the sale and ownership of exotic animals. On advice from the city solicitor, that was scaled back to a ban on the sale of all exotic animals including reptiles.
About 60 people attended a public information meeting at city hall on Tuesday night, about half of which found the proposed bylaw too tough. Others found it didn't go far enough.
While store owners argue smaller reptiles make excellent pets, representatives from the Reptile Refuge and animal protection groups support a complete ban on the sale and ownership of exotic animals.
Watts, who spearheaded the original bylaw said Wednesday she'll be meeting again with interested parties on the wording of the proposed legislation.
"I don't know that we'll achieve total consensus, but I think there are areas that we can improve upon," Watts said. She declined to detail what the changes might be, saying she didn't want to pre-empt the process.
City solicitor Craig Macfarlane has said the issue would best be handled at the federal level.
Watts agrees.
"As it stands right now, it's not being addressed at the federal level," Watts said, adding that leaves municipalities to pick up the slack.
She said she'll be asking her colleagues to suspend voting on the bylaw until it can be reworded.